4rd annual clayart slide workshop!! last update

updated thu 6 mar 03

Russel Fouts on tue 4 mar 03

I leave for San Diego Wednesday morning so this will be the last update.
My access to the internet will be sporadic so I won't be able to compile
this further. If you're not on the list yet, please come and bring your
slides if you have them. You can even volunteer if you're able. I won't
be able to reply to any of your emails but most of your questions should
be answered in the lower part of this message so Please, Please, Please
read it.

And please remember, this workshop of by us for us so Clayarters only
Please.

The workshop will be on the Thursday night after the Randal Session.

The Clayart Room (Alice's Room) has been assigned so we know now where
the Workshop will be; This from mel "Holiday Inn Select, Hotel Circle
South, 1800 33 231, across the freeway from the town and country. two
blocks +. nice walk in great weather. and, we are out of the panic of
the town and country. we have a 500 sq. foot room for 24/3 wed. thurs.
and friday. 5 tables, 30 chairs. firm, paid for. the holiday still has
some rooms for nceca week. mel"

Paul Lewing had a suggestion that I think would be helpful. This is in
the spirit of keeping the Workshop alive and interesting. Sorry I'm so
late getting it in, I've been trying to finish lots of jobs so I can go
with reasonable peace of mind.

"Hi, Russell. I saw your notice yesterday about the Clayart slide
workshop and as I was shooting some slides this morning, an idea
occurred to me. I realize that there are still people who need to hear
the grey-seamless, no-glare, no-shadow, don't-crowd-it message, but many
of us have heard it many times. What we don't get to see are the
artist-at-work slides and the booth slides, which are the other two
kinds of slides we all need. We get to see and occasional
artist-at-work shot in magazines, but we almost never get to see the
booth slide.
I'd be interested in (when it comes to booth slides) how full you should
have your booth; should you pare it down; should you be in the booth;
what do you do about inappropriate ambient lighting? And for the artist
slides, what should you wear; should you look at the camera; should you
smile; should you actually be working or just posing with your work; how
much does a cluttered studio background detract? I realize that many
people are even more scared to put pictures of
themselves up there than they are pictures of their work, but many
others are not. What do you think? Is it too late to suggest it for
this year?"

I think it would be a good idea. If any of you have any of these kinds
of slides, please bring them.

We've got well over 50 participants and always end up with more. It
looks like we'll have another great turn out.

One thing slipped my mind, we'll need extension cords, you never know
how far that socket is going to be.

A lot of you are asking for more information, I've attached the original
note at the bottom of this update.

In short (see below for details);
- No more than 3 slides, properly labeled, in protective "whatever's"
- Bring them to Clayart room any time that it is open, there will be a
box (hence the protective whatever)
- Slide Wranglers should identify themselves to me early.
- That handles most of the questions I was asked directly. Please see
the full info below.

Ruth Butler and Polly Beach have confirmed that they will be there.
We'll also have a new "publisher", Richard Wittaker, Jean Lehman,
organiser of the "Strictly Functional National" and John Hesselberth,
who not only knows about glazes, he knows about photographing pots too.

We're still looking for a local professional craft photographer who's
willing to volunteer their input.

Judging from the current discussion about taking your own slides, it
looks like it's time to announce this.

The Clayart Slide Workshop has been a popular event the past 3 years. We
had so many people wanting to participate the first year that we
couldn't get them all into the Clayart Suite. The next year we were
blessed with our own conference room (actually I think it was Elca and I
discussing in the hallway that drove the hotel to relocate us).

Basically, the idea is to run it like a jury slide viewing to give
people the experience of seeing their slides in a jurying situation so
they could see what the jury sees when they review slides. It would also
be an opportunity to see your slides, objectively in relationship to the
others and how they might appear to a jury and pick up some tips. Of
course, it's also an opportunity to see more of the work of our fellow
Clayarters.

People should bring their 3 best slides (or worst, like Paul Lewing the
first year), we load them up in the trays and run them. Each slide gets
a few seconds, no
comments, just run through them, 1,2,3. Then, if anybody has a comment
they could make it before the next set.

We had lots of "expert" volunteers in the past. Ruth Butler from
Ceramics Monthly, Polly Beach from Claytimes, Janet Mansfield from
Ceramic Art & Perception, Azad, a local Denver Craft photographer, John
Hesselberth, who wrote a good article on photographing pots, lots of
folks with jury experience and even Paul Lewing and Dale Neese with the
"3 worst slides you could possibly imagine". There was a lot of great
participation.

If you want to participate, volunteer or loan equipment:

- Send an OFF LIST email to Russel.Fouts@skynet.be Put "Clayart Slide
Workshop" in the subject. This is just to get an idea of how many people
will be coming so we can judge the size of the room needed.

- If you want to show slides, label your slides with your NAME and
ADDRESS and Put a red dot in the LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER when the picture
is right-side up. In other words, put the dot where it can be seen by
the person projecting the slides when they are in the tray. Bring the
slides with you to NCECA.

- Please have the slides in a protective cover/container of some kind
and label the cover/container as well.

- No glass mounted slides please (am I the only one who still has some
of these?)

- You are welcome to participate even if you don't have slides. Just let
us know so we have an idea of how many people we have to set up for.

- We'll need volunteers to "wrangle" slides, donate projectors,
carousels, a BIG screen, help set up the projectors, the room and reset
afterwards.

- Please let me know if I've forgotten anything.

- We will let you know as soon as we know the date and time. Depending
on when we know, it will be announced on Clayart, or in the Clayart room
or on the Notices Bulletin Board at the conference (there always is
one).

- We'd like to limit this to Clayarters (active and lurkers, alike).
Otherwise, it's just going to get too big.

I'd like to make sure that we get the slides of all the people who want
to show. That all the slides get shown and that all the slides get back
to the rightful owner.

- Collecting of slides. I think the Clayart room is the best location
for this but nobody should have to spend all of NCECA in the Clayart
Suite collecting slides (unless they were planning to spend the whole of
the conference there anyway). Maybe we could have a rotation of
volunteers.

- Slide "Wranglers". Volunteers to load the slide trays and make sure
that the slides get back into their rightful containers afterwards.

- Some way to make sure that, if people can't pick up their slides after
the show, there is someone to give them back to them afterwards.

Very Important! If any body knows of a local professional craft
photographer who would like to volunteer, please let us know. Craft
magazine and book publishers are also welcome.

We will let you know the date as we get closer. It sort of depends which
evening event Clayarters are most willing to miss. The night of the
dance is definitely out. Mishy would never forgive me. ;-)

Http://www.mypots.com
Home of "The Potters Portal"
Over 1800 Pottery Links!
Updated frequently

"Is the Hokey Pokey really what it's all about?"

Russel Fouts on wed 5 mar 03

Jim Bob! Yes come, we don't need any more equipment but we'd be honored
if you'd run the projector again, thanks for offering.

You caught me just as I was going out the door. Boarding a plane for San
Diego in 2 hrs!!

------------------

I leave for San Diego Wednesday morning so this will be the last update.
My access to the internet will be sporadic so I won't be able to compile
this further. If you're not on the list yet, please come and bring your
slides if you have them. You can even volunteer if you're able. I won't
be able to reply to any of your emails but most of your questions should
be answered in the lower part of this message so Please, Please, Please
read it.

And please remember, this workshop of by us for us so Clayarters only
Please.

The workshop will be on the Thursday night after the Randal Session.

The Clayart Room (Alice's Room) has been assigned so we know now where
the Workshop will be; This from mel "Holiday Inn Select, Hotel Circle
South, 1800 33 231, across the freeway from the town and country. two
blocks +. nice walk in great weather. and, we are out of the panic of
the town and country. we have a 500 sq. foot room for 24/3 wed. thurs.
and friday. 5 tables, 30 chairs. firm, paid for. the holiday still has
some rooms for nceca week. mel"

Paul Lewing had a suggestion that I think would be helpful. This is in
the spirit of keeping the Workshop alive and interesting. Sorry I'm so
late getting it in, I've been trying to finish lots of jobs so I can go
with reasonable peace of mind.

"Hi, Russell. I saw your notice yesterday about the Clayart slide
workshop and as I was shooting some slides this morning, an idea
occurred to me. I realize that there are still people who need to hear
the grey-seamless, no-glare, no-shadow, don't-crowd-it message, but many
of us have heard it many times. What we don't get to see are the
artist-at-work slides and the booth slides, which are the other two
kinds of slides we all need. We get to see and occasional
artist-at-work shot in magazines, but we almost never get to see the
booth slide.
I'd be interested in (when it comes to booth slides) how full you should
have your booth; should you pare it down; should you be in the booth;
what do you do about inappropriate ambient lighting? And for the artist
slides, what should you wear; should you look at the camera; should you
smile; should you actually be working or just posing with your work; how
much does a cluttered studio background detract? I realize that many
people are even more scared to put pictures of
themselves up there than they are pictures of their work, but many
others are not. What do you think? Is it too late to suggest it for
this year?"

I think it would be a good idea. If any of you have any of these kinds
of slides, please bring them.

We've got well over 50 participants and always end up with more. It
looks like we'll have another great turn out.

One thing slipped my mind, we'll need extension cords, you never know
how far that socket is going to be.

A lot of you are asking for more information, I've attached the original
note at the bottom of this update.

In short (see below for details);
- No more than 3 slides, properly labeled, in protective "whatever's"
- Bring them to Clayart room any time that it is open, there will be a
box (hence the protective whatever)
- Slide Wranglers should identify themselves to me early.
- That handles most of the questions I was asked directly. Please see
the full info below.

Ruth Butler and Polly Beach have confirmed that they will be there.
We'll also have a new "publisher", Richard Wittaker, Jean Lehman,
organiser of the "Strictly Functional National" and John Hesselberth,
who not only knows about glazes, he knows about photographing pots too.

We're still looking for a local professional craft photographer who's
willing to volunteer their input.

Judging from the current discussion about taking your own slides, it
looks like it's time to announce this.

The Clayart Slide Workshop has been a popular event the past 3 years. We
had so many people wanting to participate the first year that we
couldn't get them all into the Clayart Suite. The next year we were
blessed with our own conference room (actually I think it was Elca and I
discussing in the hallway that drove the hotel to relocate us).

Basically, the idea is to run it like a jury slide viewing to give
people the experience of seeing their slides in a jurying situation so
they could see what the jury sees when they review slides. It would also
be an opportunity to see your slides, objectively in relationship to the
others and how they might appear to a jury and pick up some tips. Of
course, it's also an opportunity to see more of the work of our fellow
Clayarters.

People should bring their 3 best slides (or worst, like Paul Lewing the
first year), we load them up in the trays and run them. Each slide gets
a few seconds, no
comments, just run through them, 1,2,3. Then, if anybody has a comment
they could make it before the next set.

We had lots of "expert" volunteers in the past. Ruth Butler from
Ceramics Monthly, Polly Beach from Claytimes, Janet Mansfield from
Ceramic Art & Perception, Azad, a local Denver Craft photographer, John
Hesselberth, who wrote a good article on photographing pots, lots of
folks with jury experience and even Paul Lewing and Dale Neese with the
"3 worst slides you could possibly imagine". There was a lot of great
participation.

If you want to participate, volunteer or loan equipment:

- Send an OFF LIST email to Russel.Fouts@skynet.be Put "Clayart Slide
Workshop" in the subject. This is just to get an idea of how many people
will be coming so we can judge the size of the room needed.

- If you want to show slides, label your slides with your NAME and
ADDRESS and Put a red dot in the LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER when the picture
is right-side up. In other words, put the dot where it can be seen by
the person projecting the slides when they are in the tray. Bring the
slides with you to NCECA.

- Please have the slides in a protective cover/container of some kind
and label the cover/container as well.

- No glass mounted slides please (am I the only one who still has some
of these?)

- You are welcome to participate even if you don't have slides. Just let
us know so we have an idea of how many people we have to set up for.

- We'll need volunteers to "wrangle" slides, donate projectors,
carousels, a BIG screen, help set up the projectors, the room and reset
afterwards.

- Please let me know if I've forgotten anything.

- We will let you know as soon as we know the date and time. Depending
on when we know, it will be announced on Clayart, or in the Clayart room
or on the Notices Bulletin Board at the conference (there always is
one).

- We'd like to limit this to Clayarters (active and lurkers, alike).
Otherwise, it's just going to get too big.

I'd like to make sure that we get the slides of all the people who want
to show. That all the slides get shown and that all the slides get back
to the rightful owner.

- Collecting of slides. I think the Clayart room is the best location
for this but nobody should have to spend all of NCECA in the Clayart
Suite collecting slides (unless they were planning to spend the whole of
the conference there anyway). Maybe we could have a rotation of
volunteers.

- Slide "Wranglers". Volunteers to load the slide trays and make sure
that the slides get back into their rightful containers afterwards.

- Some way to make sure that, if people can't pick up their slides after
the show, there is someone to give them back to them afterwards.

Very Important! If any body knows of a local professional craft
photographer who would like to volunteer, please let us know. Craft
magazine and book publishers are also welcome.

We will let you know the date as we get closer. It sort of depends which
evening event Clayarters are most willing to miss. The night of the
dance is definitely out. Mishy would never forgive me. ;-)